A whole house water filter can solve an array of problems throughout your home ranging from improving water quality and taste to protecting and prolonging the lifespan of pipes/appliances to benefiting your health! Cleaning has never been easier; a whole house filter protects fixtures from contaminant buildup and makes it easier to wipe away. A whole house filter is installed at the main water line to filter every drop of water that touches or enters our body. Many of us are on a municipal water supply and rely on the local city water to protect us from harmful contaminants in the water. While, the laws intended to protect our water supplies, the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, are not being strictly enforced. If contaminant levels are not high enough to cause any immediate illnesses then it does not call for immediate attention. Nonetheless, studies have shown that harmful contaminants in the water cause chronic health effects. Chronic health effects occur long after repeated exposure to small amounts of a contaminant. This stresses the importance of protecting our water supply with further filtration to filter out various contaminants that are left behind and filter any additional chemicals that are added.  
Whole house filtration systems remove contaminants from your water through a filter connected to your main water line. All of the water coming into your house will pass through the filter before being routed to faucets, toilets and any water appliances in the house. The types of contaminants that you will need to remove from your water will vary based on whether you receive water from a municipal system, well, or spring.  

The bathroom is another important consideration when planning for your personal water safety.  Showers, in particular, can cause problems if water is contaminated or heavily treated with chemicals. For example, cities commonly use chlorine to treat the water supply for bacteria and other contaminants, but this excess chlorine can be absorbed into the skin (sometimes in large quantities) when we’re showering, since most of us prefer to shower in warm water. The warmer the water, the more it opens pores, which effectively ushers chlorine (and any other water-borne contaminants that may be present in the water) right into the largest organ in our bodies —our skin.
Hot water can also cause any toxins, bacteria, or fungus in water to become airborne, turning a water-borne concern into a respiratory issue for some, especially those with already-compromised respiratory conditions like asthma.
How a Shower Water Filter Can Help?
In addition to reducing chemical exposure when you shower, shower head filters can also improve your hair’s shine and feel, as well as support healthier, softer skin by minimizing contact with chemicals and toxins. If you choose a water filter that softens water as well, you’ll also notice that you need less soap, shampoo, and conditioner to get the job done as soft water helps very little product lather up quickly — saving you money with every single shower.  
Shower head filters can be useful even — and especially — if you live in a dorm, rental home, or apartment, or somewhere that already features water filtration. Not all water filters are created equal, so unless you’ve done the research to know exactly what kind of water filter your water is passing through, it may not make much difference when it comes to your general health, hair or skin care routine. Softeners and filtration systems need to be serviced regularly to be effective, so if your landlord or property manager isn’t on top of the recommended maintenance, a shower head filter can be a great choice to ensure your shower is not only safe, but easier on your hair and skin. An extra bonus? Your shower will also be easier to clean, since shower head filters make it less likely water will leave unsightly or hard-to-remove hard water spots and residue on the shower and fixtures.

What is in our water? 
polluted water
All sources of water whether it be a lake, river, glacier or well, contain some level of contamination. Contaminants range from naturally occurring minerals to man-made chemicals and byproducts. Water from surface water (river or lake) can be exposed to acid rain, storm water runoff, pesticide runoff and industrial waste. Water from groundwater (private wells or public water supplies), can be contaminated by disease-producing pathogens, leachate from landfills and septic systems, hazardous household products and agricultural chemicals.
The majorities of contaminant levels are not high enough to cause immediate sickness but are more likely to cause chronic health effects. This means effects that occur long after repeated exposure to small amounts of a contaminant.
Unwanted Substances in Our Water
Microbial Pathogens – Disease producing micro-organisms, which includes bacteria, viruses, parasites.
Organics
Trihalomethanes, byproducts formed when chlorine in treated drinking water combines with naturally occurring organic matter.
Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs), which include solvents, degreasers, gasoline additives, etc.
Inorganics – Toxic metals such as arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, mercury, etc.
Radioactive Elements – Radioactive contaminants that result from the decay of uranium in soils and rocks.
Scale – Hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium cause scale buildup to attach on surfaces like pipes and appliances to cause lime deposits.
Only a few of the contaminants listed above are regulated by drinking water standards. This stresses the importance of whole house water filtration, to protect you from the wide range of contaminants in your water source.

2 Most Popular Types of Whole House Water Filters
standard filter
Installing a whole house water system can solve a wide range of problems affecting your water quality, taste, or appearance of the water. Whole house filtration systems remove contaminants from your water through a filter connected to your water line. All of the water coming into your house will pass through the filter before being routed to faucets, toilets and appliances in the house. The types of contaminants that you will need to remove or treat your water with will vary based on whether you receive water from a municipal system, well, or spring. Generally, those on city water are recommended to use a whole house carbon filtration system for general multi-purpose whole house purification. Carbon filtration is effective in removing chlorine, chloramines, odor and VOCs to provide chemical free water throughout your entire home. If you have specific water contaminant issues such as iron, fluoride, sediment, or bacteria, you will you need a whole house system catered to removing that particular contaminant. For example, if you have orange and brown iron staining around the fixtures in your home, you will need a whole house iron filter to remove the staining throughout the home. A whole house softener does not work as a filter, but works to soften hard water. A whole house softener is recommended if you require soft water for a scale free environment and spotless glassware. A softener can be combined with any whole house filtration system and work together to provide clean and soft water throughout every faucet.
heavy duty filter
There are two main types of whole house systems. The first type of system is a heavy duty filtration system. This is the highest performing contaminant removal system because of the large amounts of filter media used. The media is placed in a tank about 50” tall and provides you with specific contaminant protection for 5-10 years before the media needs to be replaced. A second type of system is a standard capacity water cartridge. These water filter cartridges are placed inside durable filter housings to treat the contaminated water throughout the entire home. The filters are typically 4.5” Diameter by 10” or 20” Height and are replaced annually. These standard capacity systems are more affordable, but do require a bit more maintenance. To learn more about our heavy duty filtration systems and standard whole house filter systems view a variety of our whole house systems.
Benefits of a Whole House Water Filter
Clean, filtered water emerges from every water source in the house
Healthier showers & baths
Extended life of water using appliances and household pipes
Softened water with scale free showers and spotless glasses
Softer, brighter and longer lasting clothing
Healthier skin and hair, free of contaminants
While water from a municipal source is treated, it is still exposing you to a handful of contaminants. A whole house system provides you with extra protection in every outlet of your home. Contaminants can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled from our lungs, so it is extremely important to be protected throughout the entire home. If you have no special water contaminant issues then a whole house carbon filtration system is recommended for general multi-purpose whole house purification. If you have special water concerns then you would need a whole house system dedicated to treat that problem. Enjoy the health benefits of a whole house water filter and the peace of mind that comes with clean water. 

A quick understanding of your water quality can help you decide if a shower water filter might be beneficial for you and your home:
Does your municipality use chlorine for treatment? And if so, how much?
Is your water hard?
You can generally find out how much chlorine is used in your communities’ water treatment online or by calling your local water board. You should also be able to access your water quality report online, which will tell you what kinds of contaminants are present in your water, and at what concentrations.
The bathroom is another important consideration when planning for your personal water experience. Showers, in particular, can cause problems if water is hard, or heavily treated with chemicals.

For example, cities commonly use chlorine to treat the water supply for bacteria and other contaminants, but this excess chlorine can be absorbed into the skin (sometimes in large quantities) when we’re showering, since most of us prefer to shower in warm water. The warmer the water, the more it opens pores, which effectively ushers chlorine (and any other water-borne contaminants that may be present in the water) right into the largest organ in our bodies —our skin.
Hot water can also cause any toxins, bacteria, or fungus in water to become airborne, turning a water-borne concern into a respiratory issue for some, especially those with already-compromised respiratory conditions like asthma.

How a Shower Water Filter Can Help
In addition to reducing chemical exposure when you shower, shower head filters can also improve your hair’s shine and feel, as well as support healthier, softer skin by minimizing contact with chemicals and toxins. If you choose a water filter that softens water as well, you’ll also notice that you need less soap, shampoo, and conditioner to get the job done as soft water helps very little product lather up quickly — saving you money with every single shower.  
Shower head filters can be useful even — and especially — if you live in a dorm, rental home, or apartment, or somewhere that already features water filtration. Not all water filters are created equal, so unless you’ve done the research to know exactly what kind of water filter your water is passing through, it may not make much difference when it comes to your general health, hair or skin care routine.
Softeners and filtration systems need to be serviced regularly to be effective, so if your landlord or property manager isn’t on top of the recommended maintenance, a shower head filter can be a great choice to ensure your shower is not only safe, but easier on your hair and skin. An extra bonus? Your shower will also be easier to clean, since shower head filters make it less likely water will leave unsightly or hard-to-remove hard water spots and residue on the shower and fixtures.

Water filters for your home
Water filters are usually recommended if you have a private water supply on your property with a high amount of sediment or is at risk of chemical contamination.
Many types of water filter are available for purchase or hire.
They range from the simple bench top style to sophisticated systems requiring special plumbing and electrical work.
How do water filters work?
Water filters work as a physical barrier that can block or trap debris (for example sand) and sometimes bacteria from passing through.
Generally, the speed of the water flow will depend on the size of the gaps in the filter barrier or membrane. A fine filter with the smallest gaps will mean a slower water flow. A clogged filter will also slow the water flow.
Careful consideration should therefore be given to the quantity of water required, and the time it takes to filter, before you buy a water filter.
Usually, water filters with a faster water flow are more expensive.
Will a water filter improve the taste and odour of water?
Several water filters currently on the market will effectively improve the taste and odour of water.
Filtration can remove tastes and odours whether they are naturally occurring or caused by a disinfection process.
Will a water filter remove bacteria?
Only a reverse osmosis water filtration system will effectively remove harmful bacteria.
The simplest way to remove harmful bacteria is to disinfect the water by chlorination or by ultraviolet radiation.
As some water filters remove biocides (substances that can control the growth of harmful organisms, such as chlorine), it is possible that bacteria will re-grow unless the filtered water is stored in a sterile container in a cool, dark place.
Some water filters may also allow bacteria to multiply to great levels on the filter pads if they are not maintained regularly.
In most circumstances domestic household water filters or ultra violet treatment systems will not make water safe in relation to amoeba unless you also disinfect with chlorine. Read more about amoebic meningitis.
Will a water filter soften hard water?
Some water filters will soften hard water. Hard water contains calcium and magnesium salts which results in:
the need to use more soap
a build up of scale on plumbing fixtures
a metallic taste to water.
Filter types available
Water filters that are currently available to consumers include:
polypropylene and ceramic
activated carbon
reverse osmosis and distiller.
The most sophisticated systems are reverse osmosis and distiller filters.
Polypropylene and ceramic filters
Polypropylene and ceramic filters function by removing particles from the water. Fibres are packed tightly together to form a fine mesh screen that physically traps and removes foreign particles from the water.
However, as these filters become clogged it is necessary to throw away the filter or cartridge and replace it with a new one. Some filters may also soften hard water.
Activated carbon filters
Activated carbon filters are most effective in removing chemicals such as iron, manganese, chlorine and hydrogen sulphide along with objectionable tastes and odours.
Some may also contain ion exchange resins that can soften hard water.
Polypropylene, ceramic or activated carbon filters should not be relied upon to disinfect water.
Reverse osmosis filters and distillers
Reverse osmosis filters and distillers are the most sophisticated systems. They are capable of removing bacteria and most residual chemicals, including minerals from a water source.
However, reverse osmosis and distillers are not effective in removing hydrogen sulphide (a gas with an unpleasant ‘rotten eggs’ smell) in acidic waters.
How much do water filters cost?
The cost of water filters vary considerably.
Some water filters are simple two-tiered jugs while others connect directly to the kitchen tap and are located either on or under the bench.
Reverse osmosis filters are the most expensive to purchase, install and operate.
Which filter should I use?
For discoloured water with fine particles of grit and other foreign material, a polypropylene or ceramic filter will effectively remove the sediment. It will not remove bacteria.
To remove naturally occurring or disinfection tastes and odours from water an activated carbon filter is more appropriate. It will not remove bacteria.
To remove chemicals and bacteria, a reverse osmosis or distiller system would be required.
In most circumstances domestic household water filters or ultra violet treatment systems will not make water safe in relation to amoeba unless you also disinfect with chlorine. 

What issues can a home water filter address?
Lead removal. While lead is rarely found in our source waters and there are no known lead service lines in Portland’s distribution system, lead can be found in the plumbing inside some homes and businesses.  Lead in household plumbing can dissolve into drinking water when it sits in the pipes for several hours.  A lead-certified water filter will remove lead.
Taste and odor preference.  Some customers prefer the taste and smell of filtered water, or they may have old iron pipes in their home that impact the taste of their water.
Chlorine sensitivity.   Customers with a chloramine (chlorine   ammonia) sensitivity may prefer to filter their drinking water or install a showerhead that removes chloramine.
 Cryptosporidium cyst removal. Customers who are immune compromised may be advised by their health care provider to filter their water to remove Cryptosporidium cysts. 
How do water filters work?
Many filtration systems use carbon, charcoal, or a blend of filter media to remove contaminants when water flows through the filter media.  Depending on the type of filter, contaminants either get trapped in the pores of the filter or they adhere/absorb to the surface of the filter media.  For Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems, the water is usually treated with a pre-filter, a carbon filter, an RO membrane, and a post-filter.

People With Sensitive Skin
Showering with filtered water can reduce a number of skin conditions from eczema and rashes to dandruff and itchy scalp, so these filters are a smart choice for anyone prone to skin or scalp sensitivity, children, and especially infants.  The reason shower filters benefit skin is generally the removal of chlorine, which is responsible for all kinds of skin irritations and skin dehydration.

Chlorine is especially irritating when it gets warm, as it would be when showering or bathing.  Other water contaminants, like dissolved minerals, can be hard on hair, nails, and skin, stripping its natural oils and leaving you brittle, itchy, or dry. A shower water filter will be able to remove these kinds of contaminants as well, to leave you feeling more comfortable.

People With Asthma or Other Respiratory Conditions
In addition to skin sensitivity, chlorine and certain dissolved minerals can be responsible for exacerbating asthma. The problems start, again, when chlorinated or contaminated water is heated (for a shower or bath) – this creates chlorinated steam, which can be aggravating when inhaled.

People With Compromised Immune Systems
Showerheads can contain a myriad of bacteria, and unless you’re diligent about cleaning your showerhead regularly, these bacteria can become aerosolized every time you shower.  Regular cleaning helps, but a showerhead filter prevents much of the buildup of potentially harmful bacteria in the first place — helping you stay healthier.

People Looking To Improve Their Overall Hygiene Routines
From the health of your lungs, eyes, skin, hair, and more, a shower water filter can refresh your self-care routines and leave you feeling softer and more hydrated. And if you’re simply after a more pleasant shower or bath experience, a shower filter is a quick addition that can have a big impact.

Is A Shower Water Filter Worth It?
The answer may vary depending both on what kind of water you have to begin with, and the severity of the problems you’re dealing with while showering or bathing. For example, if you’re tired of itchy, dry skin, struggle with eczema, or have small children at home, a shower water filter can be a simple way to noticeably improve the quality of your hygiene routine.

Once you know what contaminants and/or chemicals you’re dealing with, you can narrow down shower head filters by what they’re designed to do. 

For instance, some filters are best suited to soften water, so their filtration targets removing dissolved minerals and metals from water. Others use carbon filtration to better target problematic additives like chlorine.

From there, it’s often a matter of personal preference about what kind of water pressure and spray settings you’re looking for from your shower head.

Water filtration is a hot topic in recent years, and more people are choosing to drink clean water through high quality filtration systems or spring water. While this is a great first step, it’s also important to think about the water we use to clean our skin. What is often not considered is the impact of shower water from a health and beauty perspective. Could a shower filter be the missing component to your health and beauty routine?

Why Do We Need Shower Filter?
Many of us have experienced changes in the way our hair and skin feel after showering in different cities and locations. Indeed, different countries have different kinds of water and these water sources contain various minerals and chemicals—we’ve all heard the terms hard and soft water thrown around. While this is a far bigger topic that this article allows for, one of the things in water that can be particularly damaging to hair and skin is chlorine. Chlorine is added to pools to kill bacteria, viruses, and other things which may be harmful to the human body. Chlorine (or chloramines) is added to the water supply in many regions for the same reason.
How Does Chlorine Impact Skin?
Sensitive people will notice that itchy feeling when coming out of a pool and after a hot steamy shower where you have been bathing in chlorinated water. Further, you may be familiar with recent research on the role that good bacteria play in supporting optimal human health. These bacteria live in the gut (often referred to as the microbiome), they live on the skin, in your nose, and various other places on or in the body. These bacteria play a major role in maintaining homeostasis at all layers. This means that they play a role in supporting optimal digestive health, hormonal balance, and immune system activation—to name a few. So what happens when we are repeatedly exposed to chlorine? We can disrupt our bacterial environment and this can manifest as a variety of external and internal conditions. If you have a problem on the outside, i.e. the skin, there is likely a problem at a deeper layer as well.
What’s the Best Shower Filter?
So, how can you avoid this issue? How can you take a shower with water that will not hamper your efforts to maintain healthy skin and hair that’s not dry or brittle? Obviously there are various factors, but one easy change would be to use a shower de-chlorinator. Most people don’t even know they exist and have never even considered that this should be part of their health and beauty strategy.

Unlike osmosis, we can’t simply watch reverse osmosis happen in many everyday circumstances. It was only in the 1950s when researchers began exploring how to desalinate ocean water that reverse osmosis was brought up as a possibility. They found that applying pressure to the saltwater side could work to produce more fresh water, but the amount they created was extremely small and not useful on any practical scale. What changed?

A much more advanced filter, created by two UCLA scientists. The hand-cast membranes made from cellular acetate (a polymer used in photograph film) allowed larger quantities of water to move through much faster, and the first reverse osmosis desalination plant began running a small scale operation in Coalinga, California in 1965 

Which leads us to one of the most common uses of reverse osmosis we’ve already discussed: desalination of water. That includes large plants (there are over 100 countries using desalination) or smaller operations–for instance, the kind of filter you might take camping to ensure a healthy drinking supply.

Reverse osmosis is also one of the few ways that we can take certain minerals or chemicals out of a water supply. Some water sources have extremely high levels of natural fluoridation, which can lead to enamel fluorosis (mottled teeth), or the much more severe skeletal fluorosis (an actual bending of a person’s bones or skeletal frame). Reverse osmosis can filter out fluoride, or other impurities, on a large scale in a way that a charcoal based filter (like the one most commonly found in homes) can’t.

It’s also used for recycling purposes; the chemicals used to treat metals for recycling creates harmful wastewater, and reverse osmosis can pull clean water out for better chemical disposal. But even more fun than recycling? Wastewater reverse-osmosis treatments, wherein wastewater goes through the process to create something drinkable. They’ve nicknamed it “toilet to tap” for a reason, and although it might give you pause, it’s a promising ways for developing nations to produce drinkable water.

But reverse osmosis is used in other industries as well; maple syrup, in fact, is produced using osmosis to separate the sugary concentrate from water in sap. The dairy industry uses reverse osmosis filtration to concentrate whey and milk, and the wine industry has begun using it to filter out undesirable elements like some acids, smoke, or to control alcohol content. Reverse osmosis is used to create pure ethanol, free from contaminants.

One more fun thing about reverse osmosis is that the high pressure that makes reverse osmosis effective can actually recycle itself. High pressure pumps force water through, and the remaining salty water is shot out at an extremely high rate. If this off-shoot is put through a turbine or motor, the pressure can be reused to the pumps that initially force the water through, thus re-harvesting energy.

All this industrial jazz is great, but how does reverse osmosis technology affect you, the consumer, on a smaller scale?

What is an under-sink water filter?
An under-sink water filter is a Point-of-Use (POU) device that works to remove many different kinds of contaminants from drinking water. POU means that the system is installed where you need access to clean water, such as at your kitchen or bathroom faucet, or anywhere you have an appliance that requires clean, filtered water. Also, under-sink water filters are in-line filters that connect directly to your waterline. The water passes through the filter before coming through your tap or other outlets. However, some under-sink filters dispense water through their own specially-installed faucet.

How do under-sink water filters work?
The water delivery process of a conventional under-sink filter is pretty simple and straightforward. The filter gets its water via a flexible plastic tube that’s connected directly to your cold-water line under the sink. Essentially, the tube diverts some of the water to the filter.

The water then leaves the filter through a separate flexible plastic tube and is delivered to you through the filter’s own dedicated faucet, mounted on top of the sink. That means there’s no mixing with unfiltered water.

Because of the constant pressure on the system, the water flows from the filter and out the tap when you turn on the dedicated faucet. Only drinking water delivered via the special faucet is filtered. The sink’s regular cold and hot water functions remain independent.

In contrast, simple under-sink filters have a slightly different water delivery system. In this arrangement, all of the water is diverted through the filter, and the filtered water is dispensed only through the regular cold-water sink faucet.

The Pros
They’re convenient and efficient: Under-sink water filters provide instant, permanent access to filtered water from a single water source. So, you won’t have to purchase a more expensive solution or refill a pitcher anymore. Besides that, under-sink filters are highly recommended these days because they don’t produce any wastewater.
They deliver targeted filtration: If you don’t want to waste money filtering water for your bathroom, laundry, and toilet with a whole-house filter, under-sink filters allow you to treat water at specific points in your home. After all, most families are mostly concerned with making sure that their drinking water is safe.
They save counter space: If you need the valuable storage space on top of your sink or counter, installing an under-sink filter will be a good choice, especially if you live in a small apartment and need all the countertop space possible.
Better capacity and speed: The best under-sink water filters on the market clean around 1,000 gallons of water. This means that some under-sink filters can last for a year before they need to be replaced. Moreover, because under-sink filter use water pressure to force water through the filter, their filters can be denser, so they can remove a broader range of potential contaminants.
No need to replace cartridges very often: When it comes to maintenance, under-sink water filters are a step-up from pitcher filters. Under-sink filters offer at least six months of filter-replacement-free operation, while filter replacement is required every two months or so for pitcher filters.
The Cons
They can be a bit pricey when compared to pitcher filters: Even with their less frequent filter replacement requirement, under-sink water filters are pricier than pitcher filters.
Low flow rate: The smaller faucet that comes with most under-sink filters dispense water at a slower rate than a regular kitchen faucet. Some dedicated taps will take about 15 to 20 seconds to fill up a 16-ounce glass.
They don’t chill your water: The water that comes from an under-sink filter will not be as chilled as the water you get from a refrigerator pitcher or dispenser. For some people, quickly adding a few ice cubes is still a lot of work.
Less space under your sink, if that matters: If the area under your kitchen sink is minimal and you need all the space you can get, then installing an under-sink water filter may be a bad idea.
The installation will most likely require a plumber: If you want a quick and easy DIY installation, you might be better off hiring a certified plumber in your area. Unless you have some prior plumbing experience, you may need to get an expert to install the filter for you. However, replacing the filter is very easy. In most cases, the replacement process is as easy as twisting off the old filter and twisting on the new one.